Warner Bros. confirms a Harry Potter-spinoff trilogy is in the works

Warner Bros. confirms a Harry Potter-spinoff trilogy is in the works
(Image credit: Facebook/Harry Potter)

Harry Potter fans can dive back into that magical universe for not just one, not just two, but at least three movies, slated for release in 2016, 2018, and 2020, respectively.

Warner Bros. announced on Wednesday that Harry Potter-spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be "at least a trilogy," company CEO Kevin Tsujihara said.

J.K. Rowling is writing the screenplay — her first — based off a book she wrote that was published in 2001. The story will reportedly follow Newt Scamander, a magizoologist (expert on magical creatures) and Hufflepuff hero. The story takes place 70 years before The Boy Who Lived ever arrived at Hogwarts, so don't expect any Potter cameos. Rowling challenged her fans to crack the story's synopsis when she tweeted out a mysterious anagram last week:

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The internet of course went nuts trying to solve the riddle, and one fan eventually got confirmation that she had cracked the case from Rowling herself:

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The first movie in the trilogy is slated for a Nov. 18, 2016 release, and Harry Potter vet David Yates, who directed the franchise's final four films, is again at the helm. Accio popcorn!

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Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.